NASA has awarded Astrolab and its partners a contract worth up to $1.9 billion to advance the development of the Lunar Terrain Vehicle, which will help Artemis astronauts explore more of the Moon’s surface. Astrolab is one of three teams to win contract awards. We are excited that NASA - National Aeronautics and Space Administration intends to use Astrolab’s Flexible Logistics & Exploration (FLEX) rover for crewed operations beginning with Artemis V in 2029, and will use the rover on prior uncrewed missions, operating FLEX remotely from Earth. Read the full announcement: https://lnkd.in/gmh9bGcN
Astrolab
Defense and Space Manufacturing
Hawthorne, California 12,537 followers
We build rovers for the Moon & Mars.
About us
Venturi Astrolab, Inc. (Astrolab) is pioneering new ways to explore and operate on distant planetary bodies. We are singularly focused on designing, building and operating a fleet of multi-purpose commercial planetary rovers to extend and enhance humanity’s presence in the solar system. Headquartered in Hawthorne, California, we are an American-owned and American-operated small business. Our team has more than five decades of experience in terrestrial and planetary robotics, electric vehicles, human spaceflight, and human intelligence field operations. Our stellar team, strategic partnerships with cutting-edge companies and institutions combine with our world-class manufacturing, integration and test facility will enable the delivery of lunar and Mars mobility solutions at maximum reliability, flexibility and cost effectiveness. Having a strong, diverse, and inspired team is essential to accomplishing our bold mission. Employees are our biggest asset, and we are deeply committed to them and our values. At Astrolab we… Demonstrate and inspire trust. Interactions are direct, honest, and respectful. We are fair and transparent with what we do and why. Thrive in balance. Balance gives us perspective and keeps us motivated and inspired. We commit to rewarding work and a fulfilling personal life. Seek diverse perspectives. We ask questions, engage in productive debate and offer alternatives to ensure our solutions and products are robust and a reflection of our collective best. Move with purpose. Quality and reliability are accomplished through efficient ideation and iteration. We act with a sense of urgency and deliver what we promise, always with the big picture in mind. Make an impact. We intentionally move our community and industry into the future through our work, practices, and actions. Check out our website for current openings and help us drive the future of planetary exploration & development!
- Website
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https://astrolab.space/
External link for Astrolab
- Industry
- Defense and Space Manufacturing
- Company size
- 11-50 employees
- Headquarters
- Hawthorne, California
- Type
- Privately Held
- Founded
- 2019
Locations
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Primary
Get directions
Hawthorne, California 90250, US
Employees at Astrolab
Updates
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We're excited to once again serve as a host company for the Patti Grace Smith Fellowship! Applications for the fellowship are now open.
🎉 Drumroll, for the third time, please! 🎉 We’re excited to share some fantastic news! Joining our lineup of host companies for the Class of 2025 are: Muon Space, Vast, KSAT, and Venturi Astrolab! These innovative organizations will be hosting some of our talented fellows this upcoming summer. 🥳 Each of these companies has shared some media with us, so be sure to check these out (order: Muon, Vast, KSAT, Astrolab)! With only 6 DAYS LEFT until the application deadline on October 1st, stay tuned for the final list of host companies coming soon, and make sure to work on that final stretch to get those applications submitted! We’re rooting for you and are so excited to have you join us! 🤩 Wondering if you’re the right fit for any of these companies? Read on! ⬇️ ⭐️ Founded in 2021, Muon Space is an end-to-end Space Systems Provider that designs, builds, and operates LEO satellite constellations delivering mission-critical data. Bringing an intern on board is not just about fulfilling short-term needs; it’s a strategic investment in their company’s and the intern’s future. ⭐️ VAST is a pioneer in space habitation technologies focused on expanding humanity across the solar system. Vast offers an advanced internship program with hands-on opportunities to design and build space hardware and software that will launch in 2025. ⭐️ KSAT Inc. is the world leader in ground station communications, headquartered in Tromsø, Norway. They provide the essential link that keeps spacecraft connected to Earth, offering critical infrastructure that powers the space industry. They’re looking for passionate and talented engineers from all disciplines to join them as they continue to develop critical infrastructure for the entire space community. ⭐️ Astrolab is pioneering the future of space exploration, with a bold mission to land the FLEX rover on the Moon by 2026. They are looking for driven individuals who are passionate about space technology and eager to contribute to this groundbreaking mission. #Muon #Space #Vast #KSAT #Venturi #Astrolab #PGSF #Apply #GraceMode2025
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“For the robotic arms for the Mars rovers Spirit and Opportunity, it was envisioned that the arms would only be used sparingly. Something like 10 times during the mission. When Spirit rolled off the lander the first thing they did was reach out with the arm and touch a rock, and then another rock, then another! It turned out it was so useful and impactful to have the in-situ instruments and camera that it was used much more.” -Rius Billing, head or chief engineer of all robotic arms on Mars, and now chief engineer and technical fellow at Astrolab FLEX’s robotic arm is an important tool, just like the robotic arms that have been crucial on Mars. It will be used on the Moon for deploying experiments onto the surface, collecting rock and regolith samples, trenching to uncover deeper regolith or ice samples, and more.
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Our sensor-equipped Humvee is in the spotlight for testing! Fully decked out in our lunar rover’s sensor suite, our teams have been doing nighttime testing in darkness, as well as harsh direct lighting like what is experienced at the lunar south pole. This data is helping us refine everything from how much light FLEX needs to provide to how detailed of maps the sensors create at different light levels. This data ensures that our rover can effectively and autonomously navigate the lunar surface when on uncrewed missions to the Moon.
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We had such a good time with the Brooke Owens Fellowship alumni a few weekends ago that we just had to share a few more pictures of their visit with FLEX and to Astrolab HQ! Thanks again to all of the amazing alumni for spending time with us.
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Introducing Astrolab's new homebase online! We're proud to launch our new website which features stunning imagery of FLEX, a new partners page, and more details about how you can take advantage of FLEX for your business. Check out the new website here: https://lnkd.in/eGntSxe5 A huge thank you to our partners at GROUP OF HUMANS® for their help in bringing the site to life.
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*SN1 powering on* If you've seen our FLEX prototype driving around here on social media, you've probably seen SN1 (aka serial number 1). This is the primary prototype of our lunar rover we have been using for testing, allowing us to perfect our designs, test autonomous sensors, and even perform tests with astronauts on board. We do also have a SN2 version of FLEX which resides primarily over in Europe. If you want to see SN2 in person, come say hi at IAC in Milan in October. While FLEX's design has changed a bit from this initial prototype, it's still a great demonstration of the idea and design of FLEX. We still frequently use it for testing everywhere from the lab to the desert. #space #lunarrover #engineering #Astrolab